The Wiltshire Council meeting on 21 October 2025 addressed a range of topics, including the approval of the Our Wiltshire Plan 2025-2035, an update on the council's response to the climate emergency, and discussions on various motions from council members. The council also considered supplementary planning documents related to air quality and the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site. Additionally, the council addressed questions from members regarding tourism, council investments in Israel, and other local issues.

Our Wiltshire Plan 2025-2035

The council considered a report from the Chief Executive regarding the Our Wiltshire Plan 2025-2035. The Our Wiltshire Plan sets out the council’s vision and priorities for the next decade. It is a key policy framework document that guides the council's decision-making and resource allocation. The plan likely covers various areas such as economic development, environment, health and wellbeing, and community safety. The council reviewed the plan and its appendices (Appendix 1, Appendix 2, Appendix 3) and likely discussed its strategic objectives, key performance indicators, and implementation strategies.

Climate Emergency Annual Update

The council received an annual update on its response to the climate emergency from the interim Corporate Director, Place. This update likely included a review of the council's progress in reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainable practices, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The report also included several appendices (Appendix 1, Appendix 2, Appendix 3, Appendix 4, Appendix 5) detailing greenhouse gas emissions, area board projects, and updates on initiatives like Solar Together Wiltshire.

Revenue Budget 2025/26: Blue Badges and Local Visitor Economic Partnership

The council considered recommendations from the Cabinet regarding the revenue budget for 2025/26 related to Blue Badges and the Local Visitor Economic Partnership (LVEP). The Blue Badge report likely covered the administration and enforcement of the Blue Badge scheme¹, which provides parking concessions for people with disabilities. The Local Visitor Economic Partnership report and its appendix likely addressed strategies for promoting tourism and supporting the local economy through visitor-related initiatives.

Members' Questions

Several members of the council raised questions to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members on various topics.

• Tourism Data: Councillor Richard Clewer, Conservative Group Leader, questioned Councillor Ian Thorn, Leader of the Council, about the data source for a claim that tourism in Wiltshire had fallen by 24%. Councillor Thorn clarified that the data, initially quoted by VisitEngland, referred to a 21% reduction in overnight domestic trips between 2023 and 2024, according to the VisitEngland Great British Tourism Survey. Councillor Clewer also asked Councillor Thorn to confirm whether there had been any meetings between his administration and Visit Wiltshire without Wiltshire Council officers being present. Councillor Thorn confirmed that Councillor Helen Belcher OBE, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Regeneration and Assets, and Councillor Peter Wragg, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Tourism, met with David Andrews from Visit Wiltshire on 10 June to discuss Visit Wiltshire's priorities and funding, and that no commitments were made.

• Council Investments in Israel: Councillor John Wells questioned Councillor Gavin Grant, Cabinet Member for Finance, about whether Wiltshire Council funds are invested in Israel, given the recent atrocities committed by Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank . Councillor Grant confirmed that none of the council's funds are directly invested in Israeli banks or organisations. He further explained that the Wiltshire Pension Fund (WPF), which invests on behalf of 166 employers and 89,044 members, had £0.6m (0.02% of the Fund) invested in companies registered in Israel as of the end of Q2 2025. He noted that the Pension Fund Committee had agreed to support Brunel in excluding companies involved in controversial weapons and those non-compliant with Principle 2 of the UN Global Compact².

• A361 Road Closure Diversion: Councillor Philip Whitehead questioned Councillor Ian Thorn and Councillor Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding, regarding the impact of a planned closure of the A361 [https://www.google.com/maps/search/A361+Wiltshire/] on the village of Bishops Cannings. Councillor Whitehead highlighted that the village was severely impacted by diverted traffic and that existing maintenance problems on the diversion route were not addressed prior to the closure. He asked whether the Leader of the Council thought that all parts of Wiltshire Council should be communicating with each other to provide the best possible service to residents, and whether the Highways Cabinet Member believed that there was One Highways department or whether it was separated into different divisions that do not communicate with each other. Councillor Thorn responded that the council fosters a strong culture of holistic service delivery, with interdepartmental collaboration, and that the Highways and Transport Directorate makes considerable effort to ensure clear and effective communication with all stakeholders.

• Household Recycling Centre Access: Councillor Bridget Wayman questioned Councillor Paul Sample JP, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change, and Waste, about Wiltshire residents potentially being charged for using the Shaftesbury Household Recycling Centre (HRC) in Dorset. Councillor Wayman asked Councillor Sample to take charge of the issue to arrive at an acceptable solution, preferably before 3 November, so that Wiltshire residents are not penalised for taking their recycling to Shaftesbury HRC. Councillor Sample responded that Wiltshire already provides a network of 10 household recycling centres, and that it would not be appropriate to put in place a special arrangement with one of the neighbouring councils at an additional cost to the council.

• Potential Conflict of Interest: Councillor Sven Hocking questioned Councillor Ian Thorn about a potential conflict of interest, given that Councillor Thorn is the Chairman of The Community Communications Partnership (CCP), a consultancy organisation that helps developers overcome difficult planning applications. Councillor Hocking noted that CCP is working with Wyatt Homes, who has acquired sites on the south of Salisbury identified in Wiltshire Council's Draft Local Plan (DLP) as suitable for development. Councillor Thorn responded that he joined CCP in September 2024 and became chairman in January 2025, that his role at the consultancy is to chair board meetings and advise on company development, and that he has no involvement in projects in Wiltshire or elsewhere for CCP. He added that he had discussed his role at CCP with the Monitoring Officer who confirmed that he had no conflicts of interest.

• Sports Facilities in Schools: Councillor Nick Baker questioned Councillor Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education, and Skills and Councillor Adrian Foster, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, and Housing, about the number of mainstream secondary schools within Wiltshire that do not have a dedicated indoor Sports Hall or similar facility, and whether provision of sporting facilities for voluntary aided schools can be supported financially from the Council's Strategic CIL funding.

Motions from Members of the Council

The council considered several notices of motion from members, covering a range of local issues. These motions included discussions on council housing, LGBTQIA+ issues, street furniture graffiti, the use of ready-to-use screenwash, a trusted billposter scheme, road diversions, council press releases, the independent voice of Healthwatch in Wiltshire, green tariffs, and planning prior approvals notification. The specific details and outcomes of these motions are not available in the provided documents, but they represent a diverse set of concerns and priorities for the council.

Air Quality Supplementary Planning Document

The council received a report on the Air Quality Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) from the interim Corporate Director, Place. The SPD provides guidance on how air quality considerations should be integrated into the planning process. It likely outlines measures to mitigate air pollution from new developments and promote sustainable transport options. The report included appendices (Appendix 1, Appendix 2) with additional information and technical details.

Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Setting Study Supplementary Planning Document

The council reviewed a report on the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Setting Study Supplementary Planning Document. This SPD provides guidance on development within the setting of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, aiming to protect its unique archaeological and historical significance. The report included a consultation report and a draft amended setting study.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Wiltshire and Swindon

The council received a report on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Wiltshire and Swindon from the interim Corporate Director, Place. The LNRS is a framework for identifying and prioritising actions to protect and enhance biodiversity and natural habitats across the region. The report included several appendices (Appendix 1, Appendix 2, Appendix 3).

Independent Remuneration Panel - Indexing of Allowances

The council received a report and recommendation from the Independent Remuneration Panel regarding the indexing of allowances for council members. The Independent Remuneration Panel is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on the level of allowances paid to councillors. Indexing ensures that allowances keep pace with inflation and other economic factors.